With 12 million Americans tuning in daily, controversial syndicated radio- show host Laura Schlessinger  known to all as "Dr. Laura"  is arguably the best-known Orthodox Jew in the United States.

Rather, she was.

In a little-noticed pronouncement, Schlessinger  who very publicly converted to Judaism five years ago  opened her radio show, "The Dr. Laura Schlessinger Program," with the revelation that she will no longer practice Judaism. Although Schlessinger says she still "considers" herself Jewish, "My identifying with this entity and my fulfilling the rituals, etcetera, of the entity  that has ended."

And with that, Orthodox Judaism lost its loudest mouthpiece and its most prominent "rabbi," as it were, with the largest American pulpit  with the exception of, perhaps, presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman.

Syndicated nationally since 1994, Schlessinger has won over listeners with her hard-edged advice and razor-sharp tongue. Yet her brash style, not to mention her espousal of a strict "moral health" code  including controversial condemnations of homosexuality as "a biological error"  put her at odds with wide swaths of the Jewish community. Many found her moralist, black-and-white, you're-with-me-or-against-me stance more representative of evangelical Christians than of Jews, who were often among her most outspoken critics.

Nonetheless, even Schlessinger's detractors were shocked by the news. "I can't tell you how significant this is," said fellow Jewish media star and "Kosher Sex" author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who has sparred with Schlessinger over her comments on homosexuality. "Dr. Laura always equated her morals and ethics with Jewish morals and ethics. That placed the American Jewish community in a real fix; on the one hand, she made Judaism very popular, on the other, she made it vilified and hated by many people."

"I think Judaism is better off not being saddled and directly associated with Dr. Laura's means," he said, adding, "although she is still a Jew."

Schlessinger began her program last Tuesday by noting that, prior to each broadcast, she spends an hour reading faxes from fans and listeners. "By and large the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive," she said. "From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99% of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point  I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back."

Schlessinger even hinted at a possible turn to Christianity  a move that, radio insiders say, would elevate her career far beyond the 300 stations that currently syndicate her show. "I have envied all my Christian friends who really, universally, deeply feel loved by God," she said. "They use the name Jesus when they refer to God... that was a mystery, being connected to God."

In her 25 years on radio, Schlessinger said she was moved "time and time again" by listeners who wrote and described that they had "joined a church, felt loved by God and that was my anchor."

Michael Medved, a conservative, nationally syndicated, radio talk-show host, celebrated the Sabbath with Schlessinger about a year ago. "We had talked about having Shabbat again," he said. When he heard of Schlessinger's defection, "My first response was to pick up the phone and try and expedite [the visit]."

"I think it's a shame," he said. "Though, of course, she was controversial in some eyes, she is one of the most admired women in America. Having the most admired woman in America speak joyously about Passover, Shabbat and Jewish lifestyle events  all of that was quite wonderful."

Of her conversion to Judaism, "I felt that I was putting out a tremendous amount toward that mission, that end, and not feeling return, not feeling connected, not feeling that inspired," Schlessinger said. "Trust me, I've talked to rabbis, I've read, I've prayed, I've agonized and I came to this place anyway  which is not exactly back to the beginning, but more in that direction than not."

"Was Laura naive to think, 'gosh, I'll be the queen of the Jews?' Yes, she was naive," said Medved. "Part of that comes from not growing up in the Jewish community. It's so rare to find a celebrity embrace of Jewish religiosity of any kind, I can see why Laura would think her very public embrace would have led to a more enthusiastic reaction. But given all the crosscurrents and controversies that divide our community, I can see why that expectation was wrong."

In 2001, despite the controversy surrounding her, the National Council of Young Israel honored Schlessinger for her "traditional American values." Rabbi Pesach Lerner, the executive director of Young Israel, was surprised by Schlessinger's defection but declined to comment on it.

Born to a Jewish father and an Italian Catholic mother, Schlessinger was raised in Brooklyn in a home that was without religion. Approximately 10 years ago, prompted by a question from her son during a viewing of a Holocaust documentary, Schlessinger, 56, began exploring her Jewish roots.

Yet last week's revelation was far from the first time Schlessinger has been wracked with religious doubts. Lacking a religious background, she has spent a lifetime searching for that missing something, and "each thing I tried left me feeling empty," she told Philadelphia's Inside magazine in 1998. Having already undergone a Conservative conversion in 1997, after a debacle with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas  a now-legendary affair in which she allegedly rejected three hotel suites, wouldn't ride in taxis and offended the entire audience at a $500 plate fundraiser  Schlessinger was tempted to give up on Judaism completely, but decided to undergo an Orthodox conversion instead.

"A large part of me wanted to make a statement after that experience, to stand even taller about Jewish values," she told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in 2001. "Besides, if you don't have an Orthodox conversion, you can't get buried in Israel. I want to be close to ground zero."

Rabbi Reuven Bulka, a fellow radio host who presided over Schlessinger's Orthodox conversion, said he was "stunned" by his friend's 180-degree turn. "It didn't make my day, shall we say."

"She obviously has a tremendous impact," said the congregational rabbi from Ottawa, Ont. "When she went through the evolutionary stage of her journey, a lot of people were inspired by her own excitement about it. I can't tell you I know 100 people who became Sabbath observant because of it, but certainly it was a feel-good message for a lot of people. That these feel-good messages won't be coming anymore is certainly a loss."

Other Jews within earshot are far from sad to see her go. "I don't think this is any great loss to the Jewish universe," said Susan Weidman Schneider, the executive editor of Lilith magazine. "I don't think she was a particularly effective or useful spokesperson. She doubtless alienated more people than she drew toward Judaism."

"So, let her say she's no longer a practicing Jew," she added. "Let her be just a garden variety, anti-choice conservative."

"I still see myself as a Jew," Schlessinger said on the air last week. "But the spiritual journey and that direction, as hardcore as I was at it, just didn't fulfill something in me that I needed."

"All I know is, in my experiences with her  which have been considerable  I haven't known her to do anything less than 100%," Bulka said. "Anything she did, she did fully. The scary thing is if she said she's leaving, it's very forboding."

"I thought she was a tough little lady  I didn't think she'd chicken out so easily," said Rabbi Isaac Levy, the chairman of Jews for Morality, who has staunchly supported Schlessinger's conservative agenda. "She's gotten a couple of kicks in the chin and she's succumbed to it."

"It seems incredible that an ethicist and moralist of her standing would invoke such shallow arguments," said Boteach, who was en route to an appearance on the titillating syndicated television show "Blind Date." "I never got great applause from my work from the Jewish community  but my people are my people, whether they love or hate me."

I consider Dr. Laura somewhat disengenous anyway. She conspicuously uses the title "Doctor" as if she's a clinical psychologist/psychiatrist when her doctorate degree is in secondary education. She likes to chide her listeners about "shacking up" when she was recently living with a guy for seven years without being married. I listened to her show for a few months and got tired of it. It got boring and repetitious.

Just a little note, at the outset, it's impossible for people to comment on an article unless they address the poster of the article. So by refusing comments, you're kind of rejecting the whole purpose of FR.

I also know just a little bit about Dr. Laura. She was railroaded off of the local radio station by activists liberals as I understand the situation.

I think that expressing religious beliefs while being involved in media, indicates an absence of judgment. It could be career ending. Sometimes it is fun to watch others do it though such as Senator Kerry (my state) actually criticizing the Pope last week. That was an indicator of his having a political death wish.

Sorry--I meant don't direct any comments my way in search of answers back in regards to this subject, not out of rudeness but because I am ignorant on the subject at hand. All can direct any and all comments to me or pass on info to others.

Schlessinger began her program last Tuesday by noting that, prior to each broadcast, she spends an hour reading faxes from fans and listeners. "By and large the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive," she said. "From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99% of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point  I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back."

How sad that she chooses to reject her religion by the faxes her fans and listeners send her. It would seem her committment--or lack thereof--to Judaism is predicated on her fan base.

Received a funny email today that's a form letter addressed to Doctor Laura:

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share this knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to apply them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord-Lev 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness-Lev. 15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 3:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination-Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing a garment made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to shone them? Lev 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20: 14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thanks you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

"I think Judaism is better off not being saddled and directly associated with Dr. Laura's means," he said, adding, "although she is still a Jew."

-----------------------

It's the other way around. Dr. Laura is better off not being saddled with Judaism. Judaism and Jews have long tended toward the direction of the Episcopal church and Marxism. Jews and Jdaism tend to chase the latest fad in both an attempt to be fashionable and in the belief that if the ludicrous is acceptable they are building a society in which Jews and Judaism will not be subjected to criticism.<p. It used to irk me that when playboy Hugh Hefner was selling his Playboy Philosophy he did so with the support of panels of rabbis.

It would seem her committment--or lack thereof--to Judaism is predicated on her fan base.

----------------------------

Not necessarily. When you get consisten irrational criticism from a group of people it's time to realize your philosopy is at odds with that groups. Therefore, go ye from among them and be ye separate.

She likes to chide her listeners about "shacking up" when she was recently living with a guy for seven years without being married

That was in her feminist whacko days in her 20's, not "recently". Her son is 17 or 18 years old and I believe she's been married to the dad for at least that long. She has repeatedly and vociferously criticized her own behavior of that time on her radio show; are we all disallowed from lecturing our kids on sex and drugs if we ourselves engaged in them?

And she's gone through her educational background on the air as well....anyone who cares to listen to her knows she's not a shrink. I personally wouldn't care if she was a plumber. Her insight on human nature and weaknesses, even if she can be shrill, are spot on.

Not necessarily. When you get consisten irrational criticism from a group of people it's time to realize your philosopy is at odds with that groups. Therefore, go ye from among them and be ye separate.

Yes exactly and quite perceptive. She discovered hypocrisy in places she didn't expect.

I have been following this discussion for several days and have a different take on Dr. Laura's new religious position.

On Monday August 11, she opened her show with a rather sad note that her 6'2" son will be going to college in 2 weeks and she had just packed 4 trunks of stuff. And she was lamenting about his absence from her home while he was attending college.

She has always prided herself on being her "kids mom". From age 0 to 18 she has advised callers that parents are supposed to give their entire life to raising their children. But if you have followed her position, at age 18 they are on their own. You want school, get a job and save. You want to shack up, get a job and save. You want a car, get a job and save.

Well she doesn't have a child anymore. Her son is grown and a man over which she should have little control. Her "kid" is in her mind. Her nest is empty.

The point being that she has, in view of advice to her audience, a major life change. She is having a problem dealing with it.

Knowing what she knows about Judaism, it is hard to believe that she was looking for adulation from her religion for her beliefs, or that the taste for bacon and lasagna has driven her out of her religion

I have yet to hear a survivor of the concentration camps, those once forsaken human beings with numbers tatooed on their forearms renounce their religion because they didn't get the kind of feedback from their diety after they were told "Arbeit Macht Frei". If anyone has cause to doubt their faith, these would be the people. On this basis, I am ashamed for Dr. Laura and embarrassed by those who sheparded her conversion. Her understanding of her adopted religion was much shallower than we were led to believe. An added chapter in her book would make it "11 Stupid Things Women Do to Louse Up Their Lives."

I disagree. What I got from the article is that she feels she's missing the point of her spirituality. Whereas she hears her Christian listeners speak of their solid personal relationship to the Lord, she feels nothing like that after giving her all to Judism.

I don't think she's giving up her religion based on a few faxes. The faxes simply exemplify her realization that something was missing.

one of the reasons i'm not a big fan of hers is her lack of grace both in tone and rhetoric. her constant message is be perfect be perfect be perfect. i believe in living righteously, but people make mistakes and i think she could be more gentle in trying to pull people up. and, as a christian, i think it would be great if she found Christ.

People who were raised in religous households have no idea how difficult it is to find your place in the spiritual world as an adult. For some of you, who have firm foundations it's hard to imagine what she's going through. I applaud her though, when she finds something she throws herself into it completely, but if it's wrong, she's not afraid to put it aside and continue in her search.

I wish her well. She's not searching for God, because God is already beside her, she's searching for a way to express her love of God. That's pretty hard.

The california counseling certificate, does not convey a psych degree, or the abilty to proscibe psychotropic meds. Lots of school counselors, pastors and substance abuse counsellors, even career counselors have taken the test, paid the fee, and gotten the licence.

She is however, neither a psychiatrist or psychologist. My understanding was she got her license to counsel, AFTER it became an issue that she was NOT technically a "real" doctor offering "counsel" on the radio.

And her ph.d. is in sports physiology, IIRC. She is more precisely, a gym teacher, with a counseling certificate. That is not a psychiatrist, or psychologist... although she does offer a lot of "frazier style" pop psychology on the radio.

I am not surprised with her switch, after the death of her estranged mother, anything is possible.

35
posted on 08/15/2003 8:29:29 PM PDT
by Robert_Paulson2
(If we just erect a big, expensive stone monument... everything will be alright!)

I have yet to hear a survivor of the concentration camps, those once forsaken human beings with numbers tatooed on their forearms renounce their religion because they didn't get the kind of feedback from their diety after they were told "Arbeit Macht Frei". If anyone has cause to doubt their faith, these would be the people. On this basis, I am ashamed for Dr. Laura and embarrassed by those who sheparded her conversion. Her understanding of her adopted religion was much shallower than we were led to believe. An added chapter in her book would make it "11 Stupid Things Women Do to Louse Up Their Lives."

I tend to agree with you--but in my family, my maternal grandfather converted to Catholicism as an adult and was a very devout Catholic. It took him a number of years before he decided to convert, but once he did, it was a total committment.

Why would she decide to reject her religion based only on faxes from fans and listeners?

Because to her, religion is a drug. It's something that's supposed to get you high and when she develops a tolerance to it she gets bored with it. If she were in a different demographic, she'd go into scientology or some spaceship cult.

38
posted on 08/15/2003 8:40:29 PM PDT
by garbanzo
(Free people will set the course of history)

That was in her feminist whacko days in her 20's, not "recently". Her son is 17 or 18 years old and I believe she's been married to the dad for at least that long. She has repeatedly and vociferously criticized her own behavior of that time on her radio show; are we all disallowed from lecturing our kids on sex and drugs if we ourselves engaged in them?

There's nothing worse to someone wallowing in their own filth, than when someone else decides to hose themselves off.

As to her chiding others about shacking up, did it ever consider to you that her conclusion now is based on the fact it was a bad experience for her?

Why is it we appreciate alcoholics teaching AA classes, cleaned up drug addicts giving testimony in high schools, etc. but we get "uncomfortable" when someone "preaches" against something because they too were there and realized the destruction?

I personally couldn't care less about Dr. Laura. But I'm not going to dump all over her for her failings and her past when she obviously reaches people. I don't see folks jumping all over Oprah for her views.

She has a PhD in physiology, after obtaining a B.S. and and a masters. But she is a licensed marriage, family and child counselor which she mentions quite frequently, so I know she's not trying to mislead anyone. If you believe that only M.D.'s should be called doctors, you have a lot more people than her to be concerned with. I know many people with PhD's who are called doctor. (Even Bill Cosby who only has a honorary doctorate, I believe.) She was in private practice for 12 years with her MFCC, which is completely legitimate.

when she was recently living with a guy for seven years without being married.

Try getting your gossip straight. She has been married for about 20 years. But she is up front about her behavior in the 70s that she is not proud of. But she never lied about that-she talked about it for years.

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